Spartacus (miniseries)

Spartacus

UK Region 2 DVD cover
Genre Drama
Action
Written by Novel:
Howard Fast
Teleplay:
Robert Schenkkan
Directed by Robert Dornhelm
Starring Goran Visnjic
Alan Bates
Angus Macfadyen
Rhona Mitra
Ian McNeice
Ross Kemp
Ben Cross
Theme music composer Randy Miller
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Ted Kurdyla
Editor(s) Mark Conte
Victor Du Bois
Cindy Mollo
Running time 171 minutes
Distributor Kurdyla Entertainment
Fuel Entertainment
Vesuvius Productions
USA Cable Entertainment
Release
Original network USA Network[1]
Original release
  • April 18, 2004 (2004-04-18)

Spartacus is a 2004 North American miniseries directed by Robert Dornhelm and produced by Ted Kurdyla from a teleplay by Robert Schenkkan. It aired over two nights on the USA Network, and stars Goran Visnjic, Alan Bates, Angus Macfadyen, Rhona Mitra, Ian McNeice, Ross Kemp and Ben Cross. It is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast.

The plot, setting, and costumes are nearly identical to those of the Stanley Kubrick 1960 version; however, this adaptation follows Howard Fast's novel more closely than does Kubrick's film. (Two of the more noticeable omissions from the new adaptation are the "I am Spartacus!" scene and Spartacus' and his wife's reunion after the battle.) The miniseries is shown as a story a woman narrates to her son, who are later revealed to be Spartacus' wife and son.

A notable piece of dramatic license has Spartacus' son born exactly at the moment Spartacus dies in battle. As Marcus Crassus and Pompey Magnus are being proclaimed co-consuls, the announcer calls Rome an Empire, when it was still a Republic at the time.

Plot

The movie starts with Varinia (Rhona Mitra), a Gaul woman and her village being attacked by the Romans. Her entire village is taken into slavery, and she is sold to Lentulus Batiatus (Ian McNeice). Spartacus (Goran Višnjić), a Thracian slave condemned to the mines, attempts to protect another slave. Spartacus is nearly crucified before Batiatus purchases the man. Spartacus and a handful of other slaves are brought to Batiatus' ludus to be trained as gladiators. Spartacus and the other slaves are brought to the Gladiators to eat, where he meets Nardo (Chris Jarman), Draba (Henry Simmons) and David (James Frain), before a fight breaks out between Draba and Gannicus (Paul Telfer), they are stopped by their trainer Cinna (Ross Kemp).

Cast

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mark A. Rivera. "Spartacus". GenreOnline. Retrieved 2010-07-24.

Quotations related to Spartacus (miniseries) at Wikiquote

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